Bethesda news, restaurants, nightlife, events and openings, real estate, crime reports and more - the way only a lifelong Bethesda resident like Robert Dyer can bring it to you. Everything you want and need to know about Bethesda, plus special investigative reports you won't find anywhere else. The must-read blog for breaking Bethesda news, when you want to be the first to know.

Tuesday, June 06, 2017

Fitness First to close June 30 as JBG project moves forward in Bethesda

Fitness First will close June 30 at 7900 Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda. The gym is located in one of several buildings scheduled to be demolished by JBG for its long-delayed 7900 Wisconsin mixed-use project, which is to be anchored by a Trader Joe's grocery store. Fitness First has for years maintained that it had a lease that ran until October 31, 2019, and would not be closing anytime soon. In fact, the gym announced it would be expanding in its current space.

But Fitness First President Peter Harvey now says that "late last week, we learned that this is not the case. We received formal notification from JBG, that they intend on terminating our lease to commence their redevelopment efforts. It is no longer financially feasible to continue to fight their efforts to redevelop sooner, and so we are sad to announce the closing."

Both used information provided from an email from Fitness First. No attribution necessary...they didn't lift it from Dyer. I will say, however - Dyer has put some good reporting on this together over the past few months.

Dyer beat Bethesda Magazine because they have a structured website that has advertising content, links, etc. Dyer has a blog. Things take a little longer. They both produced fine articles. Neither was earth shattering reporting, however.

Where are the on-the-record interview sources for Dyer's heavily opinionated articles? What are his traffic statistics, especially the "dwell times" for his baseless, long-winded op-eds?How many other news outlets reference Dyer?

I'm not even attacking the fact that is is really an informal blogs, because hyperlocal blogs are very useful. There are plenty of useful articles (specifically development updates and store openings/closings) that I can't always find elsewhere, but Dyer can't help but intersperse them with angry diatribes filled with dubious claims and personal attacks.

12:29: Wrong - there was no email to media by Fitness First. The small and slightly-failing magazine learned of the closure from my earlier report, and therefore was obligated to cite me as the source.

I'd recommend Dyer just delete trolls who are using fake names (including "Anna/Aaron" who has now even claimed to be me).Dead give away of a troll is someone who repeatedly posts negative personal comments and never on topic.

Dyer doesn't have to endure negative personal attacks or have every post turn into a totally off topic rant.

6:15 Really, I did!. I used to work on Rubgy (4833 - east corner office-4th floor). Parked in that gravel lot that's now becoming the police station. Actually all those gravel lots in the triangle destroyed so many of my shoes. I used "Rugby" often on this site, but not always. Usually supporting Dyer against someone using another Bethesda street as their name. Way back in the day I used RugbyGal as an AOL screenname. LOL You want to vilify me, but I started out on here defending dyer.

Dyer did report that JBG was positioning to redevelop long before Bethesda Beat, but its not like they plagiarized him (if they were going to do that, it follows that they would have done that a long time ago). The Bethesda Beat article was sourced from an official email sent out to members, not Dyer's tip. Theoretically they might not even have known that Dyer reported on the development, but I know that they must follow this blog somewhat since they HAVE gave Dyer gave Dyer credit multiple times, regardless of what Dyer believes.

Even after being told numerous times that I'm NOT who you think I am, you continue to perpetuate that false narrative.

That's my name that you and your aliases are tarnishing by repeatedly calling me a liar, dumpster diving hobo, schizophrenic, etc. I have every right to defend myself, yet you delete the truth and leave the inflammatory insults and lies about me.

By your actions, it is evident that your intention is to use these falsehoods against me to further your own agenda.

Remember this all started with me asking a question. An on-topic question. That's it.

The sad thing is I'm just a normal gal, posting my thoughts, opening my life to strangers here, basically being real.

And it scares you all so much you've vilified me, made wild untrue accusations against me, threatened me, ridiculed me, and said some pretty nasty ugly things. Any time I've defended myself, it's caused more of the same. Shameful.